Codes and Frequencies

Description

For sample adults who kept more than firearm around his or her home (including the garage, outdoor storage area, truck, or car) (GUNNO), GUN2SHOT indicates that one of the firearms was a shotgun.

Interviewers introduced the questions on firearm safety by stating, "The next questions are about safety and firearms. Firearms include pistols, shotguns, rifles, and other types of guns. Do not include guns that cannot fire, starter pistols, or BB guns." The survey form also directed interviewers to read if necessary: "Sometimes the use of firearms can lead to injury, which is a health problem."

After establishing that more than one gun was kept in the home, interviewers asked, "What kinds of firearms are they?" The survey form directed interviewers to mark all categories that applied.

The 1998 survey also included questions on the kinds of firearms kept at home. These variables are not harmonized with the "kind of firearm" variables for 1994 because the 1998 survey did not ask respondents about the number of firearms they possessed before asking about the type of firearm.